U.S. patent number 5,806,102 [Application Number 08/917,322] was granted by the patent office on 1998-09-15 for face shield for helmet.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Korea OGK Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Soo An Park.
United States Patent |
5,806,102 |
Park |
September 15, 1998 |
Face shield for helmet
Abstract
A face shield for a helmet. The face shield having a weather
lens and a face lens spaced from the weather lens so as to form an
air gap, is characterized in that an electroconductive film is
attached to the air gap of the weather lens, in that upper and
lower electrodes are printed on upper and lower sides of the
electroconductive film, respectively, in that a plurality of dot
electrodes which are uniformly spaced from each other are printed
on the entire part of the electroconductive film, and in that the
weather lens is made from a material such as a polycarbonate,
butyrate, or an acrylic, and the face lens from an anti-fog
sheet.
Inventors: |
Park; Soo An (Seoul,
KR) |
Assignee: |
Korea OGK Co., Ltd.
(KR)
|
Family
ID: |
25679568 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/917,322 |
Filed: |
August 25, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/424; 2/435;
2/9; 219/211 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B
3/245 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A42B
3/18 (20060101); A42B 3/24 (20060101); A42B
003/24 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/9,15,424,435,422,434
;219/203,211,543,147 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Neas; Michael A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Dougherty & Dremann
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A face shield for a helmet comprising a weather lens and a face
lens spaced from said weather lens so as to form an air gap
therebetween, said weather lens comprising an interior air gap
facing surface and an exterior surface, wherein an
electroconductive film is attached to said interior air gap facing
surface of said weather lens, wherein upper and lower electrodes
are printed on the upper and lower edges of said electroconductive
film, wherein a plurality of dot electrodes which are uniformly
spaced from each other are printed on said electroconductive film,
wherein said weather lens is made from a material selected from the
group consisting of polycarbonate, butyrate, and acrylic, and
wherein said face lens is made from an anti-fog sheet.
2. A face shield according to claim 1, wherein said exterior
surface of said weather lens comprises a hardening treatment to
inhibit scratching.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a face shield for a helmet used
for motorcycle, and more particularly to a face shield for a helmet
for preventing formation of fog upon an interior surface of the
face shield, as well as for effectively thawing snow and ice
attached to an exterior surface of the face shield under its
use.
The helmet is used for protecting wearer's head when riding the
motorcycle and the face shield is also used for protecting wearer's
face from wind, rain, snow, and so on. Various other variations are
known in the conventional face shield for the helmet.
2. Discussion of Related Art
As shown in FIG. 1, the face shield 2 is generally mounted on the
helmet 1 with a pivot 3 in the center. Thus, if necessary, a wearer
can pull down the face shield over a support plate to protect
his/her face, and he/she can also pull it up over the support plate
to expose his/her face to outside.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,953 which issued to Douglas A. Reuber and Amsey
Buehler discloses a face shield for a helmet for preventing the
formation of fog on the interior surface of the face shield
depending upon the temperature difference between inside and
outside of the face shield, and also for thawing snow and ice
attached to the exterior surface.
The face shield for the helmet according to the prior art, as shown
in FIGS. 2 and 3, comprises a weather lens 10 and a face lens 20
spaced from the weather lens by an air gap 30, the weather lens and
the face lens being secured to a housing 40. The face lens 20 has a
rear lens 21 on a face side and an inner lens 22 on the side of the
air gap 30.
The weather lens 10 and the face lens 20 are coextensive, and are
mounted to the housing 40 so as to form the air gap 30 by a spacer
50. The air gap 30 is maintained to be sealed. The spacer 50 is
generally made from a material like neoprene.
In an embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the inner lens 22 of the face
lens 20 is spaced from the rear lens 21 thereof by the spacer 23.
However, in another preferred embodiment, the inner lens 22 is
laminated to the rear lens 21.
Formed on the rear lens 21 is an anti-fog coating 24 in entire face
side. The anti-fog coating 24 may be either a hydrophilic coating
or a hydrophobic coating, and will inhibit the build-up of fog on
the interior surface of rear lens. The rear lens 21 is preferably
made from a material such as a polycarbonate, butyrate, or an
acrylic.
Attached to the air gap 30 facing surface of inner lens 22 is a
transparent electroconductive film 25 which substantially covers
the air gap 30. The electroconductive film 25 is a composite
product comprising a PET substrate (polyester) to which is applied
a thin layer of indium tin oxide (ITO). Such an ITO coating
provides high visible light transmission, low reflectivity and
uniform electrical conductivity.
Further, upper and lower electrodes 26 and 27 are printed on the
upper and lower parts of the electroconductive film of the inner
lens 22. Printed on the lower portion of the air gap 31 facing
surface of the inner lens 22 is a conductor 28 for providing
current to the lower electrode 27. The upper and lower electrodes
and the conductor 28 are made from an electrically conductive silk
screen ink.
A contact 60 is mounted through the inner lens 22 and connects an
end of the lower electrode 27 to the conductor 28.
An end of the conductor 28 is connected to a terminal 70 and an end
of the upper electrode 26 is connected to another terminal 71, the
terminals 70 and 71 being mounted through the inner lens and the
rear lens.
In the arrangement of the face shield of the prior art, an
operation will be explained as follows.
If electric potential is applied to the upper and lower electrodes
26 and 27 through the terminals 70 and 71, the current flows into
the electroconductive film 25 therebetween. Once the current flow
into the electroconductive film 25 is established, heat is
generated. The heat is transmitted to the inner lens, the rear
lens, and the air gap 30.
Thus, there is no difference in the temperature between the inside
and outside of the face lens, thereby inhibiting the formation of
fog on the interior surface of the face lens, even though it is
very cold.
In addition, if air in the air gap 30 is maintained to be warm, it
is possible to thaw snow attached to the exterior surface of the
weather lens 20.
As mentioned above, the face shield according to the prior art can
inhibit the build-up of fog on the rear lens of the face lens.
However, in the face shield according to the prior art, there is
provided a problem in that it is difficult to effectively eliminate
snow attached to the exterior surface of the weather lens 10
because the heat generated in the electroconductive film 25 is
transmitted to the weather lens through the air gap 30 and the
temperature in the weather lens is not so high thereby.
In particular, in winter having lots of snow, since the snow
attached to the weather lens 10 easily becomes ice, it is difficult
to thaw the snow by heat of the weather lens 10 in such a case.
Thereby, the face shield according to the prior art provides a
problem that the snow attached to the face shield for the helmet
used for motorcycle, must be eliminated by wearer's hands during
use of the motorcycle.
Further, even if the electroconductive film 25 is conductive, since
it has comparatively high resistance for generating the heat, the
current does not enough flow into the central portion thereof.
Thus, in the face shield according to the prior art, there may
arise another problem that a small amount of heat is generated in
the central portion of the electroconductive film 25.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a face
shield for a helmet for preventing formation of fog, or frost upon
an interior surface of the face shield for the helmet, as well as
for effectively thawing snow and ice attached to the exterior
surface of the face shield under its use.
Another of the present invention is to provide a face shield for a
helmet capable of uniformly thawing snow and ice attached to the
entire surface of a weather lens by generating uniform heat in the
entire part of an electroconductive film.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set
forth in the description which follows, and in part will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention
will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed
out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the
appended drawings.
To achieve the above objects in accordance with the present
invention, as embodied and broadly described, the face shield is
characterized in that an electroconductive film is attached to the
air gap facing surface of the weather lens, in that upper and lower
electrodes are printed on upper and lower sides of the
electroconductive film, respectively, in that a plurality of dot
electrodes which are uniformly spaced from each other are printed
on the entire part of the electroconductive film, and in that the
weather lens is made from a material such as a polycarbonate,
butyrate, or an acrylic, and the face lens from an anti-fog
sheet.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description
and the following detailed description are exemplary and
explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the
invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ATTACHED DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further
understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention:
FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a helmet having a face shield;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a face shield according to the
prior art;
FIG. 3 is a front view of an inner lens of a face lens in an
arrangement of a face shield of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a face shield according to the
present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a rear view of a weather lens in an arrangement of a face
shield of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments
of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a face shield according to the
present invention. FIG. 5 is a rear view of a weather lens in an
arrangement of a face shield of FIG. 4.
As shown, the face shield of the present invention comprises a
weather lens 100, and a face lens 200 spaced from the weather lens
100 to form an air gap 300.
Attached to the air gap facing surface of the weather lens 100 is
an electroconductive film 110 on which upper and lower electrodes
120 and 130 are each formed.
The electroconductive film 110 is a composite product comprising a
PET substrate (polyester) to which is applied by a thin layer of
indium tin oxide (ITO). Such an ITO coating provides high visible
light transmission, low reflectivity and uniform electrical
conductivity. Therefore, if electric potential is applied to the
upper and lower electrodes 120 and 130, the current flows into the
electroconductive film 110 therebetween. Further, such an ITO
coating does not screen the wearer's view owing to its
transparence.
The upper and lower electrodes are made from an electrically
conductive silk screen ink.
As shown in FIG. 5, the upper and lower electrodes 120 and 130 each
have two strips which are connected to each other. A plurality of
dot electrodes 140 are printed on the entire part of the
electroconductive film 110. The dot electrodes 140 is used for
improving the conductivity of the electroconductive film 110, and
is thereby employed to generate the uniform heat in the entire part
thereof. Further, the dot electrodes 140 are uniformly spaced from
one another so as not to disturb the wearer's view.
Formed on the central parts of the upper electrode 120 and the
lower electrode 130, respectively, is a contact 150 for providing
power. An electric wire (not shown) connected to the contact 150 is
also connected to a terminal (not shown) in a position of a housing
400. The contact 150 is mounted through the weather lens 100.
The weather lens 100 is made from a material such as a
polycarbonate, a butyrate, or an acrylic. Further, the exterior
surface of the weather lens is treated for hardening so as to
inhibit scratching.
The face lens 200 is made from an anti-fog sheet. It is well known
that the anti-fog sheet is used for inhibiting the build-up of fog
or frost.
In the meantime, a spacer 310 between the weather lens and the face
lens is made from a material such as an ethylene vinyl acetate
foam.
In the arrangement of the face shield according to the present
invention, first of all, the weather lens is adhered to the housing
400 and the spacer 310 also adheres to the inner side of the
weather lens 100. And, to the other end of the spacer 310 is
adhered the face lens 200.
In the face shield of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, operations will be explained as follows.
If power is applied to the terminal in the housing 400, the power
is provided to the upper and lower electrodes 120 and 130 of the
inner side of the weather lens through the electric wire and the
contacts 150. This means that the electric potential is applied to
the upper and lower electrodes 120 and 130.
Thereby, current flows into the electroconductive film 110 attached
to the weather lens 100. The electroconductive film 110 generates
heat by the current. The heat keeps the weather lens warm and also
warms the air gap 300 between the weather lens 100 and the face
lens 200.
In addition, according to the face shield of the present invention,
since the dot electrodes 140 are printed on the entire part of the
electroconductive film 110, the conductivity in the
electroconductive film 110 is improved and the heat is uniformly
generated therein.
As mentioned above, since the present invention unlike the prior
art, is to directly transmit the heat generated in the
electroconductive film 110 to the weather lens 100, lots of amount
of heat are provided to the weather lens to thereby highly raise
the temperature in the weather lens. And, the temperature in the
entire part of the weather lens is uniform. This results in
effectively thawing snow and ice attached to the exterior surface
of the weather lens 100 during the use of the face shield.
The heat of air in the air gap 300 is transmitted to the face lens
200 and makes it warm. Thus, since there is no difference in the
temperature between the inside and outside of the face lens 200, it
is possible to inhibit the build-up of fog on the interior surface
of the face lens 200.
Even though the temperature of the face lens 200 is a little lower
than that of the weather lens 100, since the face lens 200 is made
from the anti-fog sheet and the electroconductive film 110 is
subjected to block the lower temperature from outside, it is
possible to inhibit the formation of fog on the interior surface of
the face lens 200.
As mentioned above, since the present invention is to attach the
electroconductive film 110 to the interior surface of the weather
lens 100 and a plurality of dot electrodes 140 are printed on the
whole portion of the electroconductive film 110, it is possible to
maintain the temperature high in the weather lens, thereby
effectively thawing snow and ice attached to the exterior surface
of the weather lens 100.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the face
lens is made from the anti-fog sheet and the electroconductive film
is subjected to block the lower temperature from outside, even if
the amount of the heat provided to the face lens 200 is a little
low, it is possible to definitely inhibit the formation of fog on
the interior surface of the face lens 200.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the face shield for the
helmet of the present invention without departing from the spirit
or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present
invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention
provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
* * * * *